City Worker Brings Employment Lawsuit Under Whistleblower Law

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Employer provided materials, such as employee handbooks and employment agreements, might serve multiple roles. Such information can acclimate new employees to the duties and expectations of their new professional roles. These materials might also function as reference points for the physical facilities, employee directories, and other useful information.

However, an employment attorney might agree that company publications might also minimize an employer’s exposure to discrimination or employment lawsuits. By codifying the procedures that are available for reporting unprofessional or even unlawful conduct, employee handbooks and resource materials can go a long way towards building a harmonious workplace and resolving disputes that may arise in the most efficient and professional way possible.

Of course, an employer cannot proactively address every potential dispute that may arise in the workplace. Other state or federal laws might come into play in these situations, offering whistleblower protection to employees that come forward and report unlawful activities.

Yet there may still be a gap between the protections offered by an employer’s internal policies and applicable state and federal laws. In today’s story, an at-will municipal employee claims she was fired for reporting the drunk driving habits of a municipal official.

The employee reported the city secretary’s behavior to the local police chief. Shortly thereafter, she received a letter of termination, stating that she was being laid off due to funding issues. The employee appealed her termination to the city council, which affirmed the result. She subsequently sued the city, bringing a claim under the Texas Whistleblower Act.

Source: courthousenews.com, “Fired for Doing What’s Right, Woman Says,” Cameron Langford